Aanvallen
Example: De soldaten moesten de vijand aanvallen bij zonsopgang.
Definition
"Aanvallen" means to launch an aggressive or forceful action against an opponent, often in a military context, such as soldiers attacking the enemy at dawn. It involves initiating combat or assault to gain an advantage or achieve a strategic goal.
Etymology
The Dutch verb "aanvallen" comes from combining 'aan,' meaning 'on' or 'at,' with 'vallen,' meaning 'to fall.' Originally, it implied 'to fall upon' someone or something, referring to the act of launching an attack. Did you know this vivid image of falling onto an opponent helped shape the word's meaning?
Learn to use this word actively
"Aanvallen" appears in the Vocaplus list "Dutch - History - (A2) - set 1", containing 105 commonly used words.
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